nyabinghi

N1Y4A1B3I1N1G2H4I1

noun

A style of music and a rhythm originally associated with the Nyabinghi sect of Rastafarians, but now more generally known as a component of reggae, especially roots reggae.

OriginBantu →
Scrabble 18
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Meanings

nyabinghi1

nounnyabinghi (uncountable)

alternative Nyabinghi

  1. RastafariuncountableentertainmentA style of music and a rhythm originally associated with the Nyabinghi sect of Rastafarians, but now more generally known as a component of reggae, especially roots reggae.

Nyabinghi2

proper noun

alternative Niyabinghi

  1. RastafarilifestyleA religious sect of the Rastafarian religion.
  2. RastafariA ceremony associated with the Nyabinghi.

    the Rastas wanted cannabis legalised, and a reserved plot on the land out back for their Nyabinghi gatherings

    2019, Bernardine Evaristo, Girl, Woman, Other, Penguin Books (2020), page 18
nounNyabinghi (uncountable)

alternative Niyabinghi

  1. RastafariuncountableentertainmentA style of music and a rhythm associated with the sect and ceremony, and with reggae music.

Origin

nyabinghi · noun

From Nyabinghi, the name of a legendary Ugandan/Rwandan tribe queen.

Full word history & related roots →

Nyabinghi · proper noun, noun

  1. Bantu
  2. EnglishNyabinghi

Most likely from a Great Lakes Bantu language. Compare Tooro -nya- (“pertaining to”) and ingi (“rich in; plentiful in”). The spelling with -gh- may reflect an early spelling of /ŋɡ/ to distinguish it from the simple /ŋ/.

More words from Bantu

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

nyabinghi. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nyabinghi

MLA

“nyabinghi.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nyabinghi. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nyabinghi,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nyabinghi.

Source: nyabinghi on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.